HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-02 CC MINUTESCITY COUNCIL
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
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MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008
Smoketree Room Palm Springs Convention Center
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Pougnet called the meeting to order at 12:11 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLIGENCE: Mayor Pougnet led the Pledge
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PRESENT: Councilmember Hutcheson, Councilmember Mills, Councilmember
Weigel, Mayor Pro Tern Foat, and Mayor Pougnet.
ABSENT: None.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Ready, City Attorney Holland City Clerk Thompson.
WELCOME AND BACKGROUND BY MAYOR POUGNET: Mayor Pougnet provided a
brief welcome and opening comments.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
RON MARSHALL, Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, thanked the Mayor and Members of
the City Council for bringing these items forward, commented on the building industry and
building reuse, and requested the City create a full-time preservation Officer.
RICHARD "KIP" SERAFIN, commented on the issues of conservation and sustainability, and
the building industry.
JEFF ZUCKER, Resource Conservation Commission, commented on the "sexy" aspect of
conservation and sustainability, and recommended the City Council pick the "low fruit" first, and
stated the City cannot afford to make errors with commitments funding SB811 loans.
1. DISCUSSION OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS MASTER PLAN FOR
SUSTAINABILITY INCLUDING BACKGROUND AND OTHER INITIATIVES,
PLAN DEVELOPMENT, IDENTIFICATION OF THE KEY PARTNERS,
PRESENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE VISIONS, AND
FORMULATION OF AN ACTION PLAN OF PRIORITIES:
Bob Wise, Cogan, Owens and Cogan, City Sustainability Consultant, provided
background information and a Powerpoint presentation titled The Palm Springs
Path to a Sustainable Communitv. and discussed the following concepts: the
Natural Step System Conditions, Backcasting, the Triple Bottom Line (benefits to
the Community, Natural Resources, and Economic), UN Urban Environmental
Accords and the Green Cities Declaration.
Consultant Wise outlined the three visions of Palm Springs: 1) Conservation
Palm Springs, 2) Renewable Palm Springs, and 3) Restorative Palm Springs;
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outlined Palm Springs Vision Elements and Palm Springs Opportunities; and
potential action areas: eco-tourism strategy, healthy community agenda, climate
change/greenhouse gas emission action plane, complete water cycle strategy,
recycling economic development strategy, green technology, encourage the
development of 20-minute neighborhoods, broad based community compact,
examine food vulnerability, and low carbon tourism strategy.
The City Council commented on the following areas that need to be addressed in
the action plan: education, include a focus on local businesses, base year
discussions on energy audits, air quality audit, not stopping at the City
boundaries when reviewing issues, taking successful first steps toward the long
range goals, modifications to zoning ordinances that give "green" development
incentives, administrative incentives such as fast tracking projects, discounted
fees, developing products and services that interrupt the export of funds from the
area.
The City Council commented on the concepts that exemplify a successful plan:
realistic and doable, community involvement, City set the example and be a
leader, visible and affordable, institutionalize the plans and programs, City wide
programs that are friendly and fun, and the City Council discussed key partners
and developing a plan to increase the leadership role the City can take toward
legislative objectives, and the opportunities to develop the Palm Springs "brand"
as a sustainable place.
Consultant Wise summarized the next step as incorporating the City Councils
ideas, survey to City employees on City programs, develop a strategy for the
Summit Week, and building bridges with the City Council and the Leadership
Council.
No action taken.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS, REQUESTS, AND REPORTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: The City Council adjourned at 1.44 p.m, to a Regular Meeting,
Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall,
preceded by a Closed Session at 4:00 p.m., Small Conference Room, City Hall, 3200
East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs.
APPROVED BY A MOTION OF THE PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL THIS
15T" DAY OF OCTOBER, 2008.
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STEPHEN P. POUGNET,-MAYOR
ATTEST:
ES THOMPSON, CITY CLERK
